Improvement in broadcast sowers



I. J'. TRUMAN & R.

was J. PRICE, B. JOHNSTON improvement in Broadcast Sewers.

Patented lan.2.'1872.

133.) 2 Sh eets -Sheetl .5. PRICE, B. JOHNSTON, I. J. TRUMAN & R. M.HAMlLTON.

Improvement in Broadcast Sewers.

. NO. ]22,405. Patentedjan.2,1872.

Winesses JACOB PRICE, OF SAN LEANDRO, BAPTIST JOHNSTON, IRWIN J. TRUMAN,AND ROBERT M. HAMILTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, ASSIGNORS TO LIVING- STON L.BAKER AND ROBERT M. HAMILTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.

IMPROVEMENT IN BROADCAST SOWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,405, dated January2, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAooB P non, of San Leandro, in the county ofAlameda and State of California, BAPTIsT J QHNSTON, of San Francisco, inthe county of San Francisco and State of California, and IRWIN J.TRUMAN, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,and ROBERT M. HAMILTON, of the city and county of San Francisco, in theState of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Seed-Sowers 5 and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of our improved seed-sower.Fig. 2 represents a plan view, and Fig. 3 represents a front view of thesame. I

The nature of our invention consists in certain improvements in powerseed-sowers, as will be hereinafter described.

In the drawing, the parts marked A represent the supporting-frame, whichmay be made of any suitable form and material. B indicates thedriving-shaft, which is supported in bearings a b upon the frame A. 0indicates the seed-hopper, arranged upon the top of the machine; and Dindicates the distributing-disk, which is situated in a horizontalposition between the bottom plate E of the hopper and the bed-plate F atthe rear of the machine, as illus trated. The driving-shaft B projectsbeyond one side of the frame and is provided at its outer end with atoothed chain-wheel, G, to receive the driving-chain that operates themachine, and which chain receives its power from one of the wheels ofthe wagon whereon the seed-sowing machine is mounted when in use. Thewheel G is made loose on the shaft B and is provided with notches at itsinner side to engage with lugs or pins 0 on the shaft, thereby lockingthe parts together for operation. A shipper-lever, H, is provided forthrowing the parts into and out of clutch, when desired. The lower endof said lever B works in a groove on the hub of the wheel G. Its centeris fulcrumed upon a projecting end of the bolster-piece I, while itsupper end is provided with a suitable and convenient handle, asillustrated. A latch-piece, d, is secured to the side of the hopper,which is furnished with suitable projections to receive and hold thelever H in its several positions. The driving-shaft B is connected toand operates the vertical distributing spindle J by means of abevel-gear, K, fixed to the end of the shaft B, and a bevel-pinion, L,at the lower end of the spindle J. The spindle J is arranged in suitablebearings and passes up through the bed F and hopper bottom E. Its upperend, which projects into the lower portion of the hopper, is furnishedwith a stirring-finger, e, for agitating the seed and insuring itsuniform discharge through the passages or openings N in the hopperbottom to the distributing-disk D beneath. The distributing-disk D isformed of cast metal and is secured to the vertical spindle J just abovethe bed-plate F. Said disk is provided with vertical wings or flanges f,with curved ends for throwing the seed as the disk revolves in ahorizontal position. Flat metallic plates M are provided for closing theseedpassages N. These plates pass out through the front of the hopperand are secured at the out side thereof by means of screws or bolts 9that pass through longitudinal slots in said plate and screw into thebottom piece E of the hopper, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing. The plates M are joined, by suitable rods O, to hand-leverP, arranged at the front of the machine, pivoted to the frame A at theirlower ends, with their upper ends passin gthrough aslotted catch-piece,Q, which is securedto the upper part of the hopper. Flanges i areattached to the outer sides of the lever P, which catch into notchesformed for their recep tion in the catch-piece Q, and springs R aresecured to the inner sides of the levers, which springs rest against thecentral bar of the catchpiece Q and press the levers P outward toprevent the uangesi from jarring out from the notches, and to thusretain the levers P and gate-plates M in position as adjusted. By meansof the levers P the gate-plates M can be adjusted so that the machinewill throw the seed more or less to the right or left, as desired,accordingly as the openings or passages N are increased or diminished inrelation to each other, and the amount of seed distributed to a givensurface of land can also be very accurately regulated by the adjustmentof the plates and 1evers. If preferred, the ends of the levers mayextend higher up than shown, and the catchpiece Q may be arranged toproject from the upper edge of the hopper, or nearly so.

The grainis, by means of the revolving flan ged disk D, thrown to thesides and rear of the machine, the bolster piece I being arranged toprevent the grain from going in a forward direction. The side of thebolster pieceI next to the disk is faced with metal, as is also theunder side of the hopper bottom E and top of the bed F, thus insuring asmooth and even surface and rendering the parts durable.

It will be understood that, when used, the machine is to be placed upona wagon or cart in the usual manner, upon which it may be secured in theproper position by clamp-bolts from the frame, so that it will spreadthe grain from the rear and sides as the team moves forward.

It will be seen by reference to the drawing and the foregoingdescription that the lever for controlling the delivery of the seed, aswell as the lever for throwing the machine in and out of action, arearranged in relation to the seedbox or hopper, and each; that the drivercan readily operate each lever when necessary by one hand, thus enablinghim to adjust and regulate the sower, while, at the same time, retainingfull control of the team. Then, again, it will be observed that thehopper, being supported by the bolster-plate I and by the posts of theframe at the front, receives a firm and substantial support, while thespace at the rear and sides of the disk D is left open and free, notbeing encumbered by braces or connectingrods to obstruct the passage ofthe seed or interfere with its uniform distribution in all directions.

Having described our improved seed-sower, what we claim therein as newand of our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of a hopper and the seeding mechanism of a broadcastsower with the levers P P and H, arranged Within reach of the driver, togovern the flow of grain and the operation of the machine, substantiallyas set forth.

JACOB PRICE. BAPTIST JOHNSTON. IRWIN J. TRUMAN. ROBT. M. HAMILTON.

